Decorating means for imitating beamed ceilings.



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Patented Feb. 28, 1911.

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A. H. PITNEY. DEGORATING MEANS FOR IMITATING BEAMED (mums.-

APPLIOATION FILED SEPT. 27, 1909.

A. H PITNEY. DECORATING MEANS FOR IMII'ATING BEAMBD .OEILINGS.

APPLICATION FILED SEPTJZ'T, 1909.

Patented Feb. 28, 1911.

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ARTHUR H. PITNEY, OF BERWYN, ILLINOIS.

DECORATING MEANS FOR IMITATING BEAMED OEILINGS.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, AR"I-IUR H. PITNEY, a citizen of the United Statesof America, and a resident of Berwyn, county of Cook, State of Illinois,have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Decorating Meansfor Imitating Beamed Ceilings, of which the following is aspecification.

It is frequently desirable to imitate projecting beams in the ceiling ofa room which was not originally provided with such projecting beams.This has usually been done by building into the room wooden beamsarranged as if they had been a part of the original structure, or bycoating the ceiling of a room with wall paper having thereon arepresentation of beams. When such wall paper representation is used, itis always apparent that it is merely fiat wall paper, however skilfullythe shadows cast by the beams may be represented, and it is practicallyimpossible to produce commercially such papers with representations ofbeams printed thereon in which the shadows will correspond with thevarious windows or other sources from which light enters the room.

The main object of this invention is to provide an improved andinexpensive construction which may be applied to the ceiling of a roomby an ordinary paper hanger or by a person not especially skilled, andwhich will be so close an imitation of a wooden beamed ceilingconstruction that it can scarcely be distinguished therefrom at thedistance from which it would ordinarily be viewed.

Further objects are to provide an improved article of manufacture in theform of a collapsible tubular structure, formed of strawboard or otherthin sheet material which is made up in sections so that it can bereadily assembled and secured to the ceiling of a room to form afoundation over which grained paper may be pasted to produce an exactimitation of wooden beam construction; and to provide improved devicesfor connecting the tubular sections together so as to form a durable andrigid structure which will not sag or become warped or distorted.

A specific embodiment of this invention is shown in the accompanyingdrawings, in which Figure 1 is a fragmentary view in perspective of thecorner of the ceiling of a Specification of Letters Patent. Applicationfiled September 27, 1909.

Patented Feb. 28, 1911. Serial No. 519,804.

room, provided with decorating means constructed according to thisinvention; a portion of this figure showing the foundation structure ofstrawboard; a portion showing the arrangement of the inner layer ofpaper which extends across the joints; and a portion showing the outerlayer of grained paper which gives the final finish to the exposedsurfaces. Fig. 2 is an enlarged crosssectional view of one of thestructural elements showing the method of applying the structure to theceiling. Fig. 3 is a detail in perspective showing the shape to whichthe ends of the sections are cut when they abut against the sides ofother sections. Fig. 4 is a. notched sectional detail showing the mannerof applying the foundation structure when a beam is contiguous to a sidewall. Fig. 5 is a detail in perspective showing the shape of thestrawboard struc ture which is inserted into the abutting ends of twosections of the same beam. for splicing the sections together. Fig. 6shows by a series of views in perspective the manner of bending thefasteners which are used for securing the edges of the sheets ofstrawboard in forming a beam with moldings. Fig. 7 is a perspective viewof one of the staples which are used in making the joints betweensections which meet end to end. Figs. 8, 9, and 10 show modified formsof the strawboard foundation structure. Fig. 11 shows a clip used in themodified construction. Fig. 12 shows a washer or bur through which areinserted the screws which secure the structure to the ceiling.

In the construction shown in the drawings, the imitation of beams in theceiling is produced by fastening to the ceiling a foundation structurebuilt up of hollow shells of light and stiff material, such asstrawboard. For convenience in packing and shipping, these shells aremade up from flat sheets, properly cut, ruled and scored so that theymay be rapidly built up as they are being applied to the ceiling. Thesheets are of standard length and joined end to end during the processof attaching them to the ceiling so as to make up continuous beams ofany desired length. In the form shown in Figs. 1 to 5, the shellscomprise a middle part of substantially rectangular cross-see tion and amolding extending along each side of the middle part. The sheet ofstrawboard is first scored along the ten parallel lines at which it isto be bent. ferred to use what is known lined strawboard, that is,strawboard which has a facing of paper on one side, since this facing ofpaper prevents the strawboard from warping, when moistened by the pastewhich is used for applying the final layers of wall paper.

In applying the strawboard foundation structure to the ceiling, theworkman first draws lines on the ceiling to assist him in locating thebeams. For instance, he might draw lines locating the positions of thefolds 1 and 2. Then in applying the strawboard, he will first place thesheet so that the score which is designated 1 in Fig. 2 will registerwith the mark on the ceiling designated 1 in Fig. 1. He then secures thestrips 3 to the ceiling, preferably by means of screws at passed throughwashers 5. He next secures the strip (3 of the strawboard sheet so thatthe score 2 coincides with the corresponding line on the ceiling, in thesame manner as he fastened the strip 3. Finally, the outer strips T arefastened to the strips 8, which then form the sides of a beam, the edgesof the strips 7 being located by means of a mark previously made in theproper position on the strips 8. These marks are preferably printed uponthe sheets of the strawboard by the manufacturer. The edge strips 7 aresecured to the faces of the strips 8 by inserting fasteners 9 throughregistering slits in the strawboarcl. These slits as well as theperforations through which the screws t pass may all be made by themanufacturer, or they may be merely knife cuts made by the paper hangeras he erects the foundation structure. 011 assembling the structure, theshells which form the beams 10 are secured to the ceiling and connectedend to end so as to extend across the entire length of the room. Thebeams 11 which extend transversely across the room are cut to suchlengths as to fit between the successive beams 10, and are preferablydisposed at right angles to the beams 10 so as to avoid the necessity ofemploying special skill in making the joints. These, like the beams 10,are also secured directly to the ceilin and their ends are cut to theshape shown in Fig. 3 to fit the beams 10. In addition to securing thesections to the ceiling, and as a means for holding them together, metalfastening clips or staples 12 are placed across all end joints. Thefasteners 9 are inserted through the parts 8 with heads inside as shown,before the strawboard sections are secured to the ceiling, and eachfastener is retained in position by. bending over one of its shanks Thestrip 7 is secured by pushing it into place and causing the remainingshanks 14 of the fasteners to enter the slit-s in the strip 7 The bentover shanks 13 secure the It is prel fasteners against dislodgmentduring this operation. Finally, the shanks ll are bent down against theouter faces of the strips 7. The joints between abutting ends ofsections of the same beam are made by inserting a strawboard core 15 soas to extend across the joint, within the beam. This is made by bendinga strip of strawboard to form a hollow rectangle and fastening the endsas at 16 in Fig. The corner bends 17 of the core should be at rightangles to those of the beams so that the core will brace the beamagainst. racking. The telescoping core 15 is also fastened in place byfasteners 9. 'Where it is desired to have a beam of less width along theside walls, the middle strip 18 may be cut down and scored to providethe fastening flange 19 as in Fig. 4. After the foundation structure isin place, the whole ceiling is covered by n'all pape The paper coveringthe panels 20 between the beams is first applied and its margins areturned down and pasted to the sides of the moldings 21 along the beams.Finally, the finishing layer of grained paper is pasted over the beams,this being laid so that the grain runs parallel with the beams and beingfitted where the beams oin one another so as to have the appearance ofjoints in a wooden structure. The strips of grained paper 22 should beof such width that they will extend over the entire exposed surfaces ofthe beam shell and the two adjacent molding shells so that their edgeswill exactly meet the fiat surfaces of the panels. The grained paperthus serves as an additional bond between the beam and molding shells.

.23 designates a picture molding which should preferably be of wood ofthe kind which is imitated in the grained paper.

The arrangement of the ceiling ornamentation is, of course, susceptibleof unlimited modification, but in designing a beamed ceiling, it isdesirable that there be intersecting beams at suitable intervals inorder that the shells of the beams running in one direction will supportthose of the beams running in a transverse direction against collapsingor distortion.

In the modification shown in Fig. 8 the margin strips 7 are turned upinstead of down and are secured by angle clips 2t.

In the form shown in Fig. 9, the beams 25 and moldings 26 are separateand each is in the form of a complete tube. The beams 25 are fastened tothe ceiling by angle clips 2% and the moldings are fastened to the beamsby similar angle clips In the form shown in Fig. 10, the sections arealso tubular, but of modified construction.

Although certain specific embodiments of this invention are herein shownand described, it will be understood that numerous details of theconstructions shown may be lit altered or omitted, within the scope ofthe following claims, without departing from the spirit of thisii'ivention.

I claim 1. In means for imitating beamed ceilings, a collapsiblestructural element comprising a strip of material folded to form a beammember substantially rectangular in crosssectional form and folded toform a molding extending along each side thereof.

2. In means for imitating beamed ceilings, a structural elementcomprising a strip of material folded to form a beam membersubstantially rectangular in cross-sectional form with a moldingextending along each side thereof, and means concealed within themolding for securing said element in position.

3. Means for imitating beamed ceilings, comprising a plurality ofintersecting shells of comparatively light and stiff material secured tothe ceiling of a room and connected together to simulate wooden beams,and a layer of paper pasted over said shells and having its surfacegrained to imitate the appearance of wood, said shells being built upfrom a plurality of sections, and strips of suitable material extendingacross the joints between said sections for binding them together.

4. In means for imitating beamed ceilings, a collapsible structuralelement comprising a sheet of material folded to form a beam memberrectangular in cross-sectional form, and further folded to form amolding extending along the upper edge of said beam member.

5. In means for imitating beamed ceilings, the combination with a hollowbeam member, of a hollow collapsible molding extending along the upperedge of said beam member and secured thereto, and means for securingsaid molding in place, said securing means being concealed by thecompleted molding.

6. In means for imitating beamed ceilings, a hollow collapslble beammember, a hollow collapsible molding extending along each side of saidbeam member, and means for securing said moldings in place, saidsecuring means being concealed. by the completed moldings,

7. The method of imitating a beamed ceiling, which consists in forming ahollow beam, partially forming a hollow molding at each side of saidbeam adapted to support said beam, securing said moldings to theceiling, and completing said moldings.

8. Means for imitating beamed ceilings, comprising a foundationstructure formed of sheet material bent to simulate a wooden beam andhaving marginal parts bent upon themselves to form moldings along thesides of the beam, and a layer of paper pasted over said foundationstructure.

9. Means for imitating beamed ceilings, comprising a foundationstructure formed of sheet material bent to simulate a wooden beam andhaving marginal parts bent upon then'iselves to form moldings along thesides of the beam, the edges ofsaid marginal parts lying flat againstthe sides of the beam parts, metal fasteners connecting said edges tothe beam parts, and a layer of paper pasted over said foundationstructure.

10. Means for imitating beamed ceilings, comprising a foundationstructure formed of sheet material bent to simulate a wooden beam andhaving marginal parts bent upon themselves to form moldings along thesides of the beam, said foundation structure comprising a plurality ofsimilar hollow shells, abutting end to end, connecting sections of likematerial telescoping with said shells and extending across the jointsbetween them, said connecting sections being formed by bending strips ofsaid material upon itself and the bends being disposed substantially atright angles to those of said shells, and a layer of paper pasted oversaid foundation structure.

11. The method of imitating a beamed ceiling, which consists inproviding a suitably scored blank, folding the same to form a hollowbeam, securing the structure thus formed in place, and further foldingthe blank to form a hollow molding.

Signed at Chicago this 25th day of September, 1909.

ARTHUR H. PITNEY.

Witnesses EUGENE A. RUMMLER, EDWIN Prrnnrs.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. 0.

